Miller's videos draw viewers, sharp criticism

STOCKTON - Vice Mayor Kathy Miller has taken her case for fixing Stockton through bankruptcy to the Internet in a series of video clips she posted on Youtube.

Scott Smith

STOCKTON - Vice Mayor Kathy Miller has taken her case for fixing Stockton through bankruptcy to the Internet in a series of video clips she posted on Youtube.

Miller wrote the script and had the four-part series produced with less than $1,500 from her re-election fund. Her goal - answer the public's questions and get ahead of any negative campaigning coming her way.

"Yes, there is an element of them that goes to campaigning," Miller said. "I don't see that as a negative."

Miller seeks a second term on the City Council. She will face challenger Randy Hatch in the Nov. 6 general election.

Hatch said he watched each of Miller's videos and accused her of parroting to the public what she learned from City Manager Bob Deis and the city's consultants.

The current council blames past elected leaders for blindly following their administrators, Hatch said. She's doing the same, he said.

"I would think the council learned a lesson," Hatch said.

Miller said the videos were her own initiative. She wanted to give residents straight answers and refute those who suggest liquidating city property and raising taxes to fix the city's finances.

Looking into the camera, Miller answers questions such as "How did this happen?" "What have we done?" and "Why bankruptcy?"

The backdrop to Miller's narration is Panella Park. Cut-away images show a hand rolling dice over a Monopoly game board. Other clips feature residents confronting the City Council at their regular meetings inside City Hall.

The four videos total about 20 minutes and have already received several hundred views. Along with those come sharp comments from viewers, critical of Miller and the council.

Miller said she expected and understands those responses, which she guessed are written by the embattled city's retirees and union members.

"They feel cheated, and they feel disrespected," Miller said in an interview. "But when there's no money, there's simply no money."